Need help moving to Linux from win2k

[Net Llama!]

On Wed, 12 Feb 2003, Mike Griffin wrote:
> I was given this E-mail from a fellow Linux user, he said you all might
> be able to help.  I apologize if this is inappropriate for this mailing.

We're always willing to lend a hand in escaping from the evil empire.

> Can any on help me with finding the following list of needed solutions?

I can provide suggestions where i have experience.  I'm sure that others
will pipe up as well.  You might want to check on freshmeat.net as well.

>
> We want the following solutions Centrally Managed:
>
> Virus Software
> Event Tracking/syslog monitoring/alerting software

Logwatch does this to a certain degree.  There's also a host of SNMP based
tools such as BigBrother.

> OS/Application patching/deploying

You'll have to elaborate on what you have in mind here.  Redhat provides
some decent tools for this such as Kickstart & Up2date.

> GPO type functionality, settings and security

I'm not clear on what GPO is.

> User/Group management

This is heavily dependent on where your users & groups are being hosted.
If they're in an NT/Samba environment that is radically diffferent to
administer than for traditional /etc/passwd /etc/group based accounts.
Also, NIS can play a role.  You'll have to elaborrate on what you need.

> IDS host/network based (snort)

You answered your own question here, snort.

> Uptime reporting similar to solarwinds

I'm not personally familiar with solarwinds.  What kind of reporting are
you looking for here.

> Bandwith montoring (Routers)

I believe that MRTG or something similar can accomplish for you.  Of
course the type of router(s) & you have is also critical.

> Firewall, host based

IPTables, part of the linux kernel.

> E-relay/gateway - virus scanning/content filtering
>
>
> Other Applications needed:
>
> Drive to Drive imaging

dd can do this if the drives are identical.  SystemImager is also good if
you have identical systems (hardware-wise).

> Drive to image

dd

> byte level syncronization software (mobiliti software)

i'm not familiar with mobiliti.  Can you elaborate?

> Full Exchange replacement

See the February issue of Linux Journal for an excellent article on how to
accomplish this.

> Fully compatible w/MS office 2k suite

There is no such beast.  M$ plays too many games to make anything "fully
compatible" with their products.  OpenOffice comes close on many levels,
as does StarOffice (if you're looking for a commercial package).  KOffice
has some followers too, although i've not used it at all.

> SQL, which is best, MySQL, PostGres or ???

Define best.  In reality, postgresql is far more mature and 'enterprise'
ready than mysql.  If you have a relatively simple DB implimentation, then
mysql will most likely meet your needs.  I personally find postgresql alot
easier to work with when given the choice.

> Content Management - PostNuke or??

Maybe you mean PHPNuke?  At any rate, this is really more of a personal
preference, although it also depends on your specific needs.  I've heard
great things about MovableType.

> Fax Server Software

hylafax.

> Backup Solutions

Depends on your infrastructure & needs.  tar will work just fine, although
prolly isn't what you want.  BRU is a commerical solution, there are many
others.  You'll need to elaborate.

> E-Mail client, compatible with above Exhcange replacement

Depends on how much compatibility your'e looking for.  If you don't care
about the calendaring/groupware stuff, then just about any email client
will work.  If you do need that extra stuff, then you'll need something
else, althoght the name of it escapes me at the moment.

>
> Need specific Business apps replaced or adapted to Linux,
> Mortgage software (genesis 2000)

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lonni J Friedman				netllama at linux-sxs.org
Linux Step-by-step & TyGeMo		     http://netllama.ipfox.com